A Seminole County Circuit Court judge Tuesday granted George Zimmerman’s lawyers more time to prepare their case, court records show.

A hearing setting important trial or hearing dates had been expected Tuesday, but Zimmerman’s defense attorney Mark O’Mara asked for more time. The next hearing is scheduled for Oct. 3.

“. . . There is still a great deal of information to be gathered regarding this case, and we are in the early stages of preparing our reciprocal discovery — a process that can take a few months — and it is simply too early in the process to set firm trial dates,” O’Mara wrote on his website. “Since our June 1 statement, a number of issues, including the revocation of Mr. Zimmerman’s bond and our Motion to Disqualify Trial Judge, have added to the complexity of the defense process.”

He said more delays are expected and that the case probably would not be ready for trial until early next year.

Zimmerman is charged with second-degree murder in the Feb. 26 killing of Miami Gardens teenager Trayvon Martin at a townhouse complex in Sanford, outside Orlando.